Container closure



May 10, 1938. J BELMONT 2,117,075

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Dec. 21, 1933 c/amv BEL MIOW$NTQR BYUZW ATTO RN EY Patented May 10, 1938 CONTAINER CLOSURE;

John Belmont, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Lebeckbo, Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 21. 1933, Serial No. 703,369

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to closures for containers for foods or liquids and particularly to containers in which milk, ice cream, carbonated beverages, etc. are sold.

Containers of this type are usually made of paper with walls of substantial thickness and rigidity and are supplied with a cap or closure which may be telescopically engaged over the open end to effect a spill-proof and therefore an air-tight closure.

Considerable difiiculty is encountered in applying these caps to the container due to the trapping of air which can only be dispelled between the walls of the container and the skirt of the cap. Due to the nicety of fit between these parts the rim of the container often collapses under this pressure of air and in this wise defeating the purpose of the closure.

Similarly, the cap may not easily be removed since atmospheric pressure upon the outside of the cap, often as high as 135 lbs. and the substantial vacuum between the inside of the cap and the container contents calls for considerable strength to remove the cap.

Quite often the contents of the container are spilt during the process of removal of the cap due to the sudden breaking of the vacuum in, the container while main strength is being exerted by the person so employed.

The present invention seeks to correct the above objectional faults by providing means whereby the interior of the container may be vented to atmosphere to break the suction therein without, in any manner, injuring or impairing the container.

More particularly the invention contemplates a container of this type having a. cap provided with means whereby the interior of the container may be vented.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a container having an apertured cap and provided with a secondary member in juxtaposition with the top thereof, which member may be pressed away from the top of the cap toper- 45 mit air to escape from or enter into the container during the process of application to or removal from the container.

A further object is to provide resilient means to maintain the secondary member in juxtaposition 50 with the bottom of the cap top and means whereby the resilient means may be compressed to permit air to enter into or escape from the interior of the container.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following drawing, illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a cap or closure constructed in accordance 5 with the invention. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being in section.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively similar views illustrating an alternate form of construction.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section of another modification.

Containers of this type, while now usually made of a paper may, of course, be moulded of fibrous material or the like or may be made of metal. One form of such container is shown at II] as a hollow cylindrical member closed at its bottom I l and having a top opening I2.

The cap or closure [3 is provided with the usual 20 top l4 and a skirt portion I5 adapted to telescopically engage over the mouth of the container.

In the present invention it is preferred to pro- 25 vide the top of the cap with a substantially central opening [6. Below the cap top and in juxtaposition therewith there is preferably secured a secondary member I! either glued at its outer extremities to the inside of the cap or otherwise securely fastened thereto.

The major portion of the secondary member may be of a lesser diameter, than the cap as shown at l8 Fig. 1, or this member may be provided with one or more openings [9, Fig. 5, whereby when depressed by the finger or other instrua ment applied at the hole l6, air may pass into or be permitted to escape from the interior of the container to facilitate easy removal or application of the cap.

The form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially similar except that the secondary member is not fastened to the cap but is held juxtaposed to the bottom of the cap by means such as the coil spring 20 and may be depressed by application of pressure to the knob 2| so atmosphere may be communicated to the interior of the container through the openings 22 in the cap.

The form shown in Fig.7 differs from the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 5 only in that a portion of the secondary member is embossed to protrude at 23 through the opening I6 to afford ready means whereby the secondary member may be depressed away from contacting the cap,

top.

While certain preferred embodiments of this device have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1

1. A removable closure cap for containers comprising in combination a skirt, a top having a substantially central aperture and a secondary member in permanently yieldable juxtaposition with the bottom of said top and having openings in permanent disalignment with" the mentioned aperture and provided with an embossment projecting through the said aperture whereby pressure applied to said embossment will depress said secondary member to vent the interior of the container to atmosphere.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an allpasteboard container having a removable top portion telescopically engaged in said container, and means carried by said top portion for venting the interior of said container prior to the removal of said top portion, said venting means comprising a pasteboard wall having a central aperture and a second pasteboard wall contiguous with the first wall and adapted to be moved from said contiguous position by pushing against that portion of said member exposed by the mentioned aperture.

JOHN BELIVIONT. 

